YES College Preparatory Schools NGA Center for Best Practices Middle Grades Literacy Forum September 28, 2006

What are the educational odds for a low- income 6 th grader in Houston? 4-yr College graduation (est.) 2 and 4-yr College entrance (est.) Hispanic: 7,633 3,5511, White/ Other: 2,141 1,6401, Pipeline Success 7% Black: 5,239 2,7541, % 28% Total: 15,013 7,9454,5001,57510% High school graduates (Actual 02/03) HISD 6 th graders (Actual 95/96) National average of HS grads with some 2-or-4- year college by ethnicity National average 4-year college graduation rate by ethnicity Of which are low-income (estimate) ESTIMATES

Who is YES College Preparatory Schools? Current Profile Campuses 4 schools serving 1,500 students with future capacity of 2,800 Student Demographics -80% are FARM eligible -95% Hispanic or African American -Avg. Student is reading on 4 to 4.5 reading level entering 6 th grade (Stanford 10) Staff Demographics -Average age: 30 -Avg. years of Experience: 4.5

Who is YES College Preparatory Schools? YES was built out of frustration. Students left my 6 th grade classroom with no “system” in place to continue their academic pursuitsYES was built out of frustration. Students left my 6 th grade classroom with no “system” in place to continue their academic pursuits YES is built on a combination of research and “in the field” trial and error. A 10 year old Houston-focused charter management organization operating 3 high-quality, college preparatory schools with ~1,100 studentsYES is built on a combination of research and “in the field” trial and error. A 10 year old Houston-focused charter management organization operating 3 high-quality, college preparatory schools with ~1,100 students YES has created a culture of institutionalized success. High performance culture with 4-year college acceptance as a graduation requirementYES has created a culture of institutionalized success. High performance culture with 4-year college acceptance as a graduation requirement YES is founded on a simple hypothesis. If you give low- income students access to the same opportunities and resources that students have at great private and suburban public schools, they will achieve at the same academic level.YES is founded on a simple hypothesis. If you give low- income students access to the same opportunities and resources that students have at great private and suburban public schools, they will achieve at the same academic level.

System-Level Performance System-Level Performance School-Level Performance School-Level Performance Classroom-Level Performance Classroom-Level Performance What Should State Policy Makers Know?

Uniform standards, scope and sequence, and objectives Uniform standards, scope and sequence, and objectives Uniform assessments Uniform assessments Accountability Accountability Culture of Success Culture of Success System-Level Performance

School-Level Performance Proven college-level academic capabilities Acceptance to a 4 year college, and College-completion expectations Shared commitment from student, parent(s) or guardian(s), staff and board members to accomplish YES mission Intellectual curiosity and a drive to succeed Rigorous college-prep curriculum Commitment to community service YES experience ensures graduates have: Small School Integrated 6 th -12 th Enrichment time and summer opportunities Annual college trips Personalized college counseling Support through college Students from Houston’s low-income communities Mission- driven, high performing school staff Extended school day, Saturday/summer school Comprehensive support system YES college-prep approach: YES ingredients for success: YES intended outcomes: Service in the community Positive, supportive network of relationships Young people from Houston’s low- income communities will graduate from 4- year college…...instilled with values of good citizenship and community service… …and will contribute to the improvement of their communities

Summer Diagnostics Mandatory 3-week Summer Session Extra Time On Task (2.5 hrs in 6 th & 7 th grade) Reading Workshop YES Corp Mandatory Reading List (10-12 books a year) Classroom Level Performance

On the Stanford Achievement Tests, YES 6th graders averaged gains in grade level equivalency of 1.85 years in reading, 2.2 years in math,1.7 years in science, and 1.9 years in social studies On the Stanford Achievement Tests, YES 6th graders averaged gains in grade level equivalency of 1.85 years in reading, 2.2 years in math,1.7 years in science, and 1.9 years in social studies 100% of Seniors accepted to at least 2 college 100% of Seniors accepted to at least 2 college 90% have graduated or are still enrolled in 2 or 4 – yr. school90% have graduated or are still enrolled in 2 or 4 – yr. school YES – Southeast was recently included in Newsweek’s top 100 public high schools in the United States.YES – Southeast was recently included in Newsweek’s top 100 public high schools in the United States. What Are the Academic Results?